December 10, 2014 Program: Spicing Up The Holidays: Chef Lara Ritchie, Chef and Culinary Director | Nothing to it Culinary Center
Lara Ritchie, Chef and Culinary Director at Nothing To It Culinary Center
Lara Ritchie spreads joy year round to enthusiastic groups who love to enhance friendships and relationships and sharpen culinary skills via the cooking and food and beverage classes held at Nothing To It Culinary Center located in South Reno on Crummer Lane. Lara is proud of here accomplishment, in her own words, "We're changing lives here, one bite at a time".
Lara grew up in the Bay area and was always fascinated by food and what it brings to our lives. She received a degree in Social Work from Arizona State University and then, after graduation, traveled through Europe with a friend on a backpacking and rail pass venture. This experience strengthened her fascination with culinary delights. When the rail pass ran out and she returned to the States, she enrolled in the New England Culinary Institute in Essex, Vermont. From there she sharpened here skills at La Folie in San Francisco, Flying Fish in Seattle, the James Beard House in New York and at Atlanta's Four Seasons. While in San Francisco she won an award for "best chocolate dessert" and Zagat Magazine awarded her the honor of #1 brunch idea for a dim sum themed brunch endeavor. In 2002 she decided to put down some roots and took over the culinary duties at Reno's "Nothing To It". She teaches of directs classes in a wide variety of food and beverage subjects held five days a week. In addition, the center also holds a retail culinary store and a deli that serves lunches. She runs Nothing To It with her husband Jay, the "behind the scenes" member of the team.
Lara is a frequent morning TV personality on the "Delicious By DeVita" series where DaVita Dialysis Centers sponsors a healthy cooking segment.